Isaiah 55.8-11 8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain
and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering
the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower
and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It
will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the
purpose for which I sent it. – God
I read this today and realized just how foolish I am at
times (well, all the time). I tend to believe very strongly in the sovereignty
of God and it both comforts me, and scares me to death.
He says, “For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…” This is
true, but it’s not easy. I want to know more of why, this happens and that
doesn’t. But my wanting to know works against me because God doesn’t have to
tell me; I just need to trust Him. I get what I need from His Word.
He says, “As the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and
flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is
my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will
accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
I get most of this, but the scary part is the part where
He says, “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and
achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” I must humble myself and trust that His
purpose is for me, and not otherwise.
When things are not going my way, I tend to feel His purpose is against me. Who is God that He even thinks of me?
Faith is more than a fleeting feeling. I can treat it
that way, but do so to my own disadvantage. Faith is not a silly little
impulse; it’s a vital way of living for those who believe. And where I get into
trouble is I tend to believe more when things are going my way. I believe less
when I run into difficulties. I cry out most when I am in difficulty. Maybe
that’s part of why His ways are higher that my ways.
God’s purpose is greater than me. God’s word will
accomplish in me beyond what I can ask or imagine. My ways are less than His
ways, but my way is to cooperate with
His ways and learn to walk in them so that His purposes may be achieved in me.
Sometimes it feels like it isn’t working so well.
And His promise is that as I cooperate and go along with
His word, His word will: not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He
desire[s] and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. Today, I just have to
be good with that.
Father, today is
the day to rise up in faith and accept, that it is all bigger than me; and You
have promised to help me if I cooperate with You through Your word. Father,
accomplish in me what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent
Your word. Thank You for Your great love and for Your eternal purpose, which (somehow)
includes me. Amen
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